Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Terri's Murder: A Foretaste of ObamaCare

The following was composed as a letter to editors of Kansas newspapers; it combines elements of several commentaries that have been posted to my blog, Veritatis: The Cartoon. For more information about Terri, her family, the appalling injustice they've suffered and to support their efforts against America's culture of death, go to http://www.terrisfight.org/. --JFB

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the court-ordered killing of Terri Schindler Schiavo, an innocent, harmless and defenseless woman who succumbed to two weeks of forced starvation on March 31, 2005.

Make no mistake: The battle to save Terri was a simple matter of right versus wrong. It takes no legal scholar to see this, but a vigorous effort was made to make it seem so. Why? Because our culture of death cannot exist without rhetoric to cloud straightforward issues. Terri Schindler Schiavo was not dying or brain-dead and she wasn't on any kind of life support. Her nutritional needs were being met with the assistance of caregivers, no differently than infants are nursed or toddlers and elderly might be spoon-fed. Despite this, judges, politicians and pundits bent over backward to paint her unworthy of life. Beholden to the all-powerful abortion lobby, they rushed to the cause of an adulterous, impatient and greedy husband who wanted her dead and forgotten.

Indeed, the battle for Terri’s life proved especially nerve-racking for the abortion lobby, its champions in the media and its minions in government. Despite the unqualified success of having created a massive legal altar upon which tens of millions of unborn had been slaughtered, these engineers of industrialized death were well aware of its shaky foundation. So they trivialized, derided, even vilified a disabled woman lying in a Florida nursing home. After all, any legislative action or judicial decision to reinsert her feeding tube might have been viewed as validating her life. And that might have led to validating life in a broader context.

Perhaps none of this should come as a surprise. Even before Roe v. Wade, our society had begun disintegrating, devolving toward a loose association of self-centered individuals who tolerate others only to the extent they prove useful. Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland personifies this utilitarian attitude; late last year, she declared abortion "preventive health care." And thanks to the Democrat majority in Congress, Mikulski's diabolic definition is included in their new health care law, permitting anti-life bureaucrats like Health & Human Services boss Kathleen Sebelius to shunt billions to "community health centers" like Planned Parenthood and other purveyors of contraception and abortion.

In the long run, this means fewer and fewer taxpayers and ever deeper cuts in government services. So, who will future Democrats find to pay for their programs? The answer is clear: no one. Rather than increase revenues, they'll decrease expenditures. For Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and like-minded politicians, killing is once again the answer. Just like they've sold abortion to generations indoctrinated in women's rights, they'll sell euthanasia to a shrinking electorate saddled with trillions in debt and a graying population of unproductive consumers. Just as "reproductive health care" became a euphemism for decapitating children in utero, "geriatric health care" will become the polite term for smothering grandparents in bed. All that's needed is to codify it, as some states have begun doing. And as the Catholic bishops and other observers have pointed out, ObamaCare lays the groundwork for it on the federal level.

If ObamaCare is ever fully implemented, it should come as no surprise to many voters when the fate Terri suffered becomes their final reward for having supported America's party of death.

What goes around does, indeed, come around.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Obama: What a difference a year Makes!

Michael Voris discusses Obama's Catholic plan and those in the Church who work for him.

Monday, March 29, 2010

See You in November

Be sure to pay attention at 2:03...



H/T: Jill Stanek

Judas Today!

  While Acts tells us that Judas 'went to his own place', his modern contemporaries are still hanging around the Church, collecting their silver pieces.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Restoration Not Reformation!

 Are you ready to fight? Let's go! ATTACK!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Answer!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

It's Time for the Laity!




Monday, March 22, 2010

House Roll Call: Health Care Overhaul

FOXNews.com - House Roll Call: Health Care Overhaul

Lists by name, and State, who voted Y and N :


WISCONSIN

Democrats -- Baldwin, Y; Kagen, Y; Kind, Y; Moore, Y; Obey, Y.

Republicans -- Petri, N; Ryan, N; Sensenbrenner, N.

My Thoughts on the Passage of Obamacare

CNA has the story of Stupak's caving in here and the bill passing by 219-212 margin on Sunday evening.

I have to admit now that I was a little concerned about whether Stupak would stand strong in the midst of the adversity, but he obviously caved into the pressures of the Obama administration. Some are calling him Judas, which seems to be a very accurate description.

I am not as concerned about Obamacare passing as I thought I would be because I know that in the end, God is victorious. I was disappointed that this bill passed, but not outraged.  God always has a plan and will provide a way out when we are faced with dilemmas or trials that seem overwhelming.

I believe that this bill will eventually die on the vine. The Republicans, Libertarians, and Independents who are elected into office in November will repeal this. If they are unable to repeal the whole thing, they'll try to reverse much of it via amendments to other legislation they'll be considering. Already, 37 states are in the process of filing lawsuits claiming that it is unconstitutional. Where will the money come from to pay for this? California and New York are already bankrupt! Practically every state is cutting funds for necessities such as education, mental health, etc. as it is. In the next presidential election, I can see everything Obama has done being reversed. The people of this country will be so sick of him by them that his Republican/Independent opponent will win by a landslide!

We have been persistent in prayer and will continue to pray and act to see that the ridiculous bill is reversed and God will act -- in His time -- not ours.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Stupak caves into pressure; will vote YES on health care

Bart Stupak is giving in to pressure and voting YES to the health care bill, he says he reached an agreement with Obama who will issue an executive order to forbid federal funds being used for abortion, and provide conscience protection for health care workers. I thought that Obama said there was NO abortion funding in the bill. Shows you how reliable his word is.

This executive order is rescindable, and may be declared unconstitutional. It is meaningless.This is a tragedy, Bart Stupak was our last hope to defeat this vote. He is starting to repeat the Democratic talking points that the funds for pregnant women will prevent abortions. It may prevent some, but not as many as the bill will pay for, after Obama goes back on his word.

About Those Fake Catholic Obamacare Endorsers...

 Some fascinating and useful information noted by The Catholic Key Blog:

1. Kevin Lofton, CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives, the hospital conglomerate that chairs Catholic Health Association is a regular contributor to Rep. Diana Degette, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. (He praises Barack Obama and HHS Secretary Kathleen (late-term abortionist"Tiller" buddy) Sebelius in this video.)

2. Catholic Health Association's chief public policy advocate, Michael Rodgers, repeatedly gives campaign money to pro-abort extremist Rep. Judy Feder.

3. Catholic Health Association has advocated aborting children with anencephaly.

4. The Leadership Conference of Women Religious has never taken a position on legalized abortion and has never supported pro-life efforts. The only abortion reference on their website, which takes positions on numerous issues, is to support a sister who signed a pro-abortion newspaper ad.

5. NETWORK Lobby has never taken a position on legalized abortion and has never supported pro-life efforts. After a career of studiously ignoring the slaughter of 40+ million innocents, NETWORK head Sister Simone Campbell claims to be more knowledgeable and committed on the subject than the U.S. Bishops and their pro-life support staff.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Roe-Era Snake Oil: Democrats Sell Abortion as "Preventive Health Care"


Late last year, Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, among the most strident and unabashed leaders of America's culture of death, claimed that abortion is "preventive health care." When I read her remark, this cartoon popped instantly to mind.

In Mikulski's dark and twisted world, abortion is a panacea not just for children, but for parents. No more burdensome daycare costs, monotonous soccer matches, cacophonous piano recitals, gratuitous orthodontist bills, skyrocketing tuition payments. And thanks to the Democrat majority in the US Senate, Mikulski's diabolic definition of preventive medicine is included in their health care bill, giving lackeys like anti-life Health & Human Services boss Kathleen Sebelius the power to send billions to "community health centers" like Planned Parenthood.

In the long run, this means fewer and fewer taxpayers and ever deeper cuts in entitlements like Social Security and the Democrats' health care travesty. But therein lies the lynchpin of socialized medicine. If ObamaCare becomes law, it should come as no surprise to aging voters that there exists a post-natal analogue of abortion. And whether it's called palliative care, cost containment, death with dignity or some other innocuous term, many will find that euthanasia is their reward for having supported America's party of death.

What goes around does, indeed, come around.

Obamacare Gives $11 Billion to Fund Abortion

 Right to Life of Central California Executive Director Jonathan Keller explains how the current health care "reform" legislation pending before Congress provides $11 billion in new funding for "community health groups" like Planned Parenthood to perform abortions.

Prayer to stop the 'healthcare' legislation


Father, In Jesus' Most Holy and Precious Name, we humbly ask that You step in and intervene at this most critical juncture in our nation's history.

Father, it was YOU who gave our Founding Fathers the wisdom and guidance to assert that our nation would be one nation under GOD, with liberty and justice for all. Our nation's founding documents state that it is from YOU that we receive the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness NOT our federal government.

Father, please stop this 'healthcare' legislation dead in its tracks.
Please frustrate the plotting of the shrewd who seek to alter our
nation into a socialist democracy so that their hands cannot perform
their enterprise or attain success. (Job 5:12-13).

Expose to the light of day the plans of the crafty.
Allow confusion and chaos to reign in their meetings this weekend
and into next week so that no path to reconciliation may be achieved.
Please allow division and rivalry to thwart the plans of those who seek
to override the will of the citizens of the United States so that this entire endeavor fails in utter futility.

Please awaken our citizenry to what is at stake.
Father, we also humbly ask that you will bring good out of this
terrible situation. Please graciously use this whole experience to
draw people to Yourself. In Jesus' name we pray for revival to spread
across our land and to heal our nation so that we once again seek our
liberty from You and not from a government of men.

Thank you for graciously hearing our prayers on behalf of our nation
and our fellow citizens.

In Jesus' Most Holy and Powerful Name We Pray. Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Catholics against Catholics on life issues is NOT news!

Pro-life blogger Jill Stanek is right. Its a holy war.
Nancy Pelosi is praying to St Joseph to help her pass the biggest expansion of abortion since Roe v Wade. Bishops are pitted against dissendent sisters, groups of nuns oppose one another, and we won't even get into the Catholic politicians!


Somehow those of us Catholics who adhere to Church teachings on life issues must get through to the members of Network and the Catholic Health Association that this health care bill cannot be supported by Catholics.

For the good of their souls, and of the poor. Yes, the poor, whose children's lives are at stake. Ask abortion clinic escort Dominican Sr Donna Quinn. No amount of health benefits for the poor can eradicate the fact that poor minority women are the ones who have the most abortions. Since the sisters of etwork say they work with the poor, they must know that. Or has their pro-abortion agenda blinded them to the plight of those they claim to serve?

Many of these women religious are high in postions of power in the Church. They, like CHA CEO Sr Carol Keehan who draws a salary of over $400K (she claims its donated to her order, but that is still a lot of money for an order with vows of poverty) They have become too involved in the status quo and those who fear that Catholic hospitals will be forced by this health care bill to perform abortions are a bit late; they already do.

In Catholic hospitals in Connecticut, the abortifacient drug Plan B is distributed to rape victims. Rep Chris Coutu (R) was part of an effort to keep CT Catholic hospitals from being forced into providing the drug which works by preventing an embryo from implanting in the uterus, but he told me that "the bishops undercut our efforts" by accepting this illicit procedure. Remember; they had a way out and chose to allow an abortifacient anyway. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/connecticut_bishops_urged_to_reverse_plan_b_decision/


In London Ontario, Catholic priest and chief ehticist for the diocese, Fr Michael Prieur, advises women to undergo so called 'early induction' abortions.. These take place when pregnant mothers have their labor induced early to give birth tobabies before the age of viability (22 weeks).Allegedly, the babies for whom Fr Prieur allows abortions have fatal anomalies, in other words, they would not live long outside the womb. Oh, its made so pretty, they have special rooms where the dying child, gasping for air, but given none, is photographed, hand and foot printed and even dressed up in a gown for a family photo. This is a comfort to famlies whose child with a fatal anomaly is born naturally, and I wish I had this comfort with my three miscarriages, but when the parents and the doctors have conspired to kill the 'unacceptable' child then dare to dress it up, it is an outrage, when it is proposed by a Catholic priest it is SCANDALOUS. Read the Life Site News story here.
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/mar/09031810.html


Is it any accident that Canada, where there has been socialized medicine for 30 years is proposing induced abortion for expensive disabled babies? In September, with Healthcare for Gunner, I spent two days with three Canadians who came to the US to warn us that socialized medicine is dangerous for the disabled, especially little Annie Farlow with Trisomy 18, who at months of age, was in a Canadian hospital and given a fatal dose of morphine without her parents' knowlege. Barb to her credit, has dedicated years of her life to pursue justice for Annie. She has encountered nothing but stonewalling and heartless bureaucrats. The most recent report from thE Coroner said that since Annie (a disabled non-verbal toddler) couldn't make her wishes known, the doctors didn't know she wanted to live. Oh really. This is socialized healthcare at its best, saving the taxpayer money by eliminating expensive patients.


And then there's Terri Schiavo, whose bishop sent a priest to her hearing to remove the feeding tube to testify on behalf of her adulterous husband Michael Schiavo who wanted Terri dead, to spend her lawsuit money with his new woman and children. Bishop Lynch even had the temerity to blame Terri's devoted family for the 'lack of peace' surrounding the nationwide story. They had offered, at no cost to Michael, to take their daughter home and care for her. He wanted her dead, and the bishop took his side. Not a week after Terri's misrable dehydration/starvation murder, our beloved Pope John Paul II died with a feeding tube. I am convinced he had the tube inserted, not because he needed one (the Church does not insist on forcing burdensome food and water on those actively dyiing, as he was) but to tell American that Terri a young woman with years of life ahead of her should have had one.

Don't forge to commemorate the anniversay of her murder which will be commemorated by a concert on March 31. See the Terri foundation website for details.
http://www.terrisfight.org/


These leaders of the Church have been scadalously disobedient to the 15 year old encyclical Evangelium Vitae, and now, through the public war over health care, the public is becoming ever more painfully aware of what has scandalized the faithful. So, to those of you who are shocked by the contentitous divide in the Church over abortion, and end of life issues for the frail and disabled, I say, "where have you been?"

Important represnetatives of our Church have been betraying the teaching on life issues publicly for years. Now they are about to cash in big time on their shame. Catholic hospitals in the CHA will be on board with the rationing of care to the disabled and the elderly and abortion procedures mandated by Obamacare.

Someday there will be a higher Court before whom those who have distorted Church teaching on life issues must appear. And no amount of backroom deals or arm-twisting will sway this Judge.

May Almighty God have mercy on us.

St Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.

Tug of War: 'Do not be Fooled' by Catholic Groups' Health Bill Support, Say Bishops

How ironic. Just when the Bishops are doing the right thing by opposing this abortion-expanding, healthcare-rationing bill, groups of dissenting nuns and "pretend to be" Catholic groups are supporting it.

The Catholic bishops of Denver have sent out an urgent message to members of their flock, warning that Catholic groups that have come out in favor of the abortion-expanding Senate health care legislation are "undermining the leadership of the nation's Catholic bishops" and "sowing confusion among faithful Catholics" in doing so. The statement came just before White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs on Thursday used the support of such groups as testimony to the bill's good standing with Catholics.

"In the past two days, congressional leaders and the White House have brought tremendous pressure on prolife Democratic members of Congress to support a fatally flawed Senate version of health care reform," states the brief alert signed by Archbishop Charles Chaput and Bishop James Conley.

"Regrettably, groups like Network and the Catholic Health Association have done a grave disservice to the American Catholic community by undermining the leadership of the nation's Catholic bishops, sowing confusion among faithful Catholics, and misleading legislators through their support of the Senate bill," they continue.

"Do not be fooled. Nothing has changed. 

story 

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS!!



CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Joke of the Day: Obama Stamp Malfunction

The Postal Services created a stamp with a picture of President Obama on it. The Postal Service noticed that the stamp was not sticking to envelopes. This enraged the President, who demanded a full investigation.

After a month of testing and $1.73 million in congressional spending, a special Presidential commission presented the following findings:

1. The stamp is in perfect order.
2. There is nothing wrong with the glue.
3. People are spitting on the wrong side.
H/T: Joan

Catholic Bishops Launch Newspaper Ads Attacking Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill

The nation's Catholic bishops have launched a slew of newspaper ads criticizing the pro-abortion Senate health care bill. Their renewed effort to defeat the legislation and its abortion funding and promotion comes as dissident Catholic groups are confusing House members into supporting the bill.

"Health care reform is about saving lives, not destroying them," the ad featuring a doctor and pregnant woman says.

Deirdre McQuade of the Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops tells LifeNews.com the ads are appearing today in the Washington Post, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, CQ and Congress Daily AM -- all read by members of Congress.

"For over 30 years, the Hyde Amendment and other longstanding and widely supported laws have prevented federal funding of elective abortions," the ad says. "Yet the Senate health care reform bill violates this policy — and fails to protect the life, dignity and conscience of all."

"It will appropriate billions of dollars in new funds not covered by the Hyde Amendment, and subsidize health plans that make their enrollees pay for elective abortions," the ad continues. "Americans would be forced to subsidize other people’s abortions through their taxes and health insurance premiums."

"We need genuine health care reform — reform that helps save lives, not destroy them," the bishops say in the ad. "The U.S. bishops strongly oppose abortion funding and threats to conscience, and call for critical improvements in affordability for the poor and access to health care for immigrants."

Read the rest here.

The Catholic Church Strongly Opposes the US Senate Health Care Bill

Regardless of attempts by some to cloud the issue, the Catholic Church clearly and unequivocally opposes the health care reform legislation currently pending before Congress. While the Church has long supported the goal of expanding access to health care, it cannot support, and must oppose, any expansion of access to abortion and in particular federal subsidization of it.

For almost a year, the Catholic bishops have worked tirelessly to ensure that the health care reform proposal would not include federal funding of abortion. Indeed, the only reason the House version of health care legislation even passed the House of Representatives in the fall was because it included the Stupak amendment, which applies existing protections against federal funding of abortion to the bill. The votes simply were not there to pass an abortion-friendly bill.

Yet the President and congressional leaders have decided to push ahead with the Senate version of the bill, which lacks the Stupak protections. By doing so, they are jeopardizing passage of their own health care reform bill….all for the sake of expanding access to abortion.

Every Pro-Life group in the country opposes the Senate bill and agrees with the following:

· Federal funds in the Senate bill can be used for elective abortions. The bill appropriates $7 billion for services at Community Health Centers which can be used directly for elective abortions.


· The Senate bill uses federal funds to subsidize health plans that cover abortions. Under the bill, a federal tax credit can be used to pay premiums for health plans covering elective abortions. This violates current and longstanding federal policy on abortion funding which forbids the use of federal funds for any part of a health benefits package that covers elective abortions.

· The Senate bill uses federal power to force Americans to pay for other people’s abortions even if they are morally opposed. The bill mandates that insurance companies deciding to cover elective abortions in a health plan “shall… collect from each enrollee in the plan (without regard to the enrollee’s age, sex, or family status) a separate payment” for such abortions. Everyone purchasing such a plan will be required by federal law to make separate payments solely and specifically for other people’s abortions -- no accommodation is permitted for people morally opposed to abortion.

As one might expect, many deeply misleading statements have been issued in recent days on this subject, some by organizations purporting to represent Catholics or Catholic institutions. Make no mistake: the Catholic Church determinedly opposes the Senate bill.

At a minimum, Congress must fix the Senate bill so that it no longer funds abortion and that missing conscience protections for health care professionals and institutions are provided. Please contact your representative and your senators and give them this message.

Pro-Life Advocates Dismiss Catholic Nuns' Letter Backing Pro-Abortion Health Care

The "Sisters" are wrong...they are misleading people into thinking it is okay for Catholics to support a bill that WILL fund abortion.

The letter signed by 59 Catholic nuns sent to members of Congress yesterday endorsing the pro-abortion Senate health care bill has been dismissed by several pro-life advocates and organizations saying it doesn't represent an authentic Catholic or pro-life position.

The letter says that "despite false claims to the contrary, the Senate bill will not provide taxpayer funding for elective abortions."  YES it WILL fund abortion.

The letter says the legislation also will help support pregnant women and "this is the real pro-life stance."

Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, the president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), has already refuted that claim with his own letter opposing the bill.

story



Archbishop Naumann upset with CHA for Senate bill support

And he is absolutely right. The CHA, specifically "Sister" Keehan, are very wrong to mislead Catholics into voting for a bill that will greatly expand and fund abortion.

The Archbishop of Kansas City has urged Catholics to contact key members of Congress and ask them to vote against the Senate health care reform bill. He also expressed his disappointment with the Catholic Health Association for its apparent willingness to accept government-funded abortion as part of health care reform.

Writing in The Leaven, Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann noted specific problems with the health care bill. Its $7 billion appropriations for Community Health Centers can be used directly for elective abortions. It uses federal funds to subsidize health care plans that cover abortions, thus making abortions more accessible.

The bill also uses the power of the federal government to force people to pay for other people’s abortions even if they are morally opposed to it, the archbishop wrote.

Archbishop Naumann said he was “deeply troubled” to learn that Sr. Carol Keehan, the Chief Executive for the Catholic Health Association (CHA), has urged the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for the Senate health care reform bill.

story

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS!!






CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121.

Archishop Naumann calls out CHA; urges Catholics to contact CHA, Congressmen

This week "Catholic" Health Association president, Sister Carol Keehan, said she and her organization are supporting the Senate version of the Health Care Reform bill, despite the expansion of abortion and other problems in it, and despite the Catholic Bishops being strongly against it. THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS ARE THE OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, NOT THE HEALTH ASSOCIATION. This stance by the CHA has given cover to some congresspeople who are voting yes and then pointing to CHA as representing the Catholic Church. They DO NOT.


Archbishop Joseph Naumann made that clear in an online column yesterday in The Leaven Catholic Newspaper that will appear in the print edition Friday. In his remarks he urged that people contact Sr. Keehan of CHA and express their disappointment, and also to be sure to call Congress!


Here is the info you need to do that: 

CHA President Sr. Carol Keehan's email address is: ckeehan@chausa.org. The PH # is: (202) 296-3993.


When you email Sr. Keehan, or reach someone on the phone, don't just vent. Definitely express your disappointment, but the most persuasive thing you can do is to relate why YOU care about this issue. You may wish to share a personal story, or one about how destructive abortion is, not only to babies, but to their mothers, as well. You may also want to refer them to the Feminists for Life web site: http://www.feministsforlife.org/ or a website about post-abortion syndrome http://www.silentnomoreawareness.org/.

Here is Archishop Nauman's article from The Leaven:


I was deeply troubled to learn that Sister Carol Keehan, the chief executive for the Catholic Health Association, has urged members of the House of Representatives to vote for the Senate Health Care Reform Bill. This action by the Catholic Health Association could not come at a more critical time.
As I write this article, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is promising a vote soon on health care reform, even while members of the House leadership admit they do not yet have enough votes for passage. One of the most critical groups standing in the way of passage by the House is pro-life Democrats.

The Catholic Health Association’s position, in effect, provides cover for any member of the House who chooses to buckle under the pressure of the president and the Democratic leadership to accept government funding of abortion. They can now defend themselves by pointing out that Catholic health care leaders recommended they vote for the bill.

The Catholic Health Association’s leadership took this action knowing that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops continues to urge members of the House of Representatives to vote against the Senate bill, unless a way is found to amend the bill to prohibit federal funding of abortion and provide conscience protection for health care professionals as well as health care institutions. The National Right to Life Committee, as well as every other creditable pro-life organization, recognizes that the Senate bill allows for unprecedented government funding for abortion.

Sister Keehan claims: “On the moral issue of abortion, there is no disagreement. On the technical issue of whether this bill prevents federal funding of abortions, we differ from Right to Life.”

I find this statement by Sister Keehan either incredibly naïve or disingenuous. Either the bill permits previously prohibited government funding of abortion or not. This is not a technicality.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in its analysis of the Senate
bill, identifies these specific problems with it:
1) The bill appropriates $7 billion for services at community health centers that can be used directly for elective abortions;
2) The bill uses federal funds to subsidize health plans that cover abortions. By subsidizing plans that cover abortions, the federal government will expand abortion coverage and make abortions more accessible;
3) The bill uses the power of the federal government to force Americans to pay for other people’s abortions, even if they are morally opposed to abortion.

If the Senate had wanted to prohibit federal funding for abortion, all they had to do was accept the language that had been adopted by the House of Representatives by an overwhelming majority. The Senate rejected this language.

Congressman Stupak, who authored the House language, has invited President Obama and/or the Democratic leadership to use the Hyde Amendment language or similar language in several other already-enacted bills that clearly prohibit federal funding of abortion. To date, they have refused to accept language that has been used for decades to prevent federal funding of abortion. The president and the Democratic leadership reject this tried-andtrue language protecting taxpayers from having to fund abortion, all the while claiming that they do not want to change current policy. If this is really the case, why not use the language that has proven effective?

Of course, abortion is not the only problem with the Senate bill. For instance, the bill fails to provide adequate conscience protection for health care professionals as well as institutions. One would think that the Catholic Health Association would be extremely concerned about conscience protection. However, if the Catholic Health Association is willing to compromise on government funding for abortion, then who needs conscience protection?

I do not doubt the laudable intentions of Sister Keehan and the Catholic Health Association. No doubt they want to find a way to extend health care coverage to those who are not being served or not being served well by the current system. Providers of health care see gut-wrenching examples of those that the current health care system is failing. However, it is not permissible to try to improve the quality of life for some by cooperating in the killing of the most innocent and
vulnerable members of our human family.

To believe that President Obama and/or the Senate and House leadership will correct these abortion issues at a later date is foolish. They are the ones responsible for making members of Congress accept government funding of abortion as an integral part of so-called health care reform. President Obama has gone back on many of his campaign promises, but has been scrupulously faithful in his promises to Planned Parenthood and others in the abortion industry to advance their agenda.

I urge you to contact your representative to urge him/her to vote against the Senate bill, unless someone finds a miraculous way to fix all of its problems. Moreover, although there are none in Kansas or Missouri, I encourage you to contact the members of Congress who have been identified as the critical swing votes on health care reform. These House members hold the fate of the entire nation in their hands. They need to hear from Americans throughout the country.

Finally, I encourage you to contact Sister Keehan and the Catholic Health Association expressing to them your disappointment in their willingness to accept government-funded abortion as part of health care reform.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Cast a life-affirming “yes” for Federally funded abortion

For the life of me I can't remember why the Vatican would have an Apostolic Visitation regarding American religious.

Dear Members of Congress:

We write to urge you to cast a life-affirming “yes” vote when the Senate health care bill (H.R. 3590) comes to the floor of the House for a vote as early as this week. We join the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), which represents 1,200 Catholic sponsors, systems, facilities and related organizations, in saying: the time is now for health reform AND the Senate bill is a good way forward.

As the heads of major Catholic women’s religious order in the United States, we represent 59,000 Catholic Sisters in the United States who respond to needs of people in many ways. Among our other ministries we are responsible for running many of our nation’s hospital systems as well as free clinics throughout the country.

Oh wait, now I remember.

I would like to be able to ask LCWR and CHA if the bill does pass and taxpayer money funds abortion - what they will do in response? Sack cloth and ashes doesn't look good with polyester suits and sensible shoes. I guess we would get the same apology pro-Obama Catholics give for this radically pro-abortion President - no apology at all.

Of course every country except the small majority Catholic country of Malta that had socialized medicine went on to subsidize abortion. But that couldn't happen here - well besides it already happening in the District of Washington D.C. and of course the money that goes to Planned Parenthood (money is fungible people).

Fr. Frank Pavone: Make Your Voice Count on Health Care

 Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, urges priests, deacons, religious, and seminarians to speak up for their flocks on health care. The USCCB urges the House of Representatives to vote no on the pro-abortion health care plan and Fr. Pavone provides useful tips on how clergy can lobby so that their representatives count their voices against pro-abortion health care reform.

Kucinich Kaves


Nebraska got the 'Cornhusker Kickback', Louisiana got the 'Louisiana Purchase', but all it took for little Dennis Kucinich to suport a bill that will bankrupt this country and expand abortion is a ride with Barry on  Air Force One.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich waited until Democrats had won last November's health care reform vote before casting his ballot against it on the House of Representatives floor.

This time around -- pressured by everyone from President Obama to Moveon.org -- the Cleveland Democrat had no luxury to dawdle before taking a stance. He just announced at a Capitol news conference that he'll vote yes on the bill's latest draft.

"I have doubts about the bill," Kucinich said. "This is not the bill I wanted to support. . . However, after careful discussions with President Obama, Speaker Pelosi, my wife Elizabeth and close friends, I’ve decided to cast a vote in favor of the legislation."


An Urgent Message Regarding Health Care

This morning I received this email from our local Bishops:




Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

After several concerted attempts by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops to persuade the leadership of Congress to exclude federal funding for elective abortions as part of the health care reform bill, we have received word that these leaders have formally rejected our moral position and will attempt to push the Senate version of the bill through Congress in the coming days. 

This is a grave disappointment and we come to you in union with all the Catholic bishops of the United States asking you to contact your legislators to oppose this funding.
There have been some misleading comments in the media about whether or not the Senate version of the bill allows federal funds to be expended for elective abortion.  We wish to make it clear that this version of the bill does fund elective abortions with federal tax dollars.  Please see an advisory that has appeared from the USCCB on this issue for verification:  www.usccb.org/healthcare/030410facts.pdf

We ask you to contact your two Senators and your Congressional Representative as soon as possible to express your opposition to federal tax dollars being used to fund elective abortions as part of health care reform.  You will find information on how to contact your legislators by going to: 
www.usccb.org/healthcare/UPDATED-bulletin-insert.pdf. This website provides you with a way to contact your legislators by e-mail or phone.  It also provides you with a sample message you may use.

Time is of the essence.  Votes in the Senate and House are expected at any time. 

We are grateful for your efforts and prayers.

Sincerely yours in Christ,


Most Reverend Michael F. Burbidge      
Bishop of Raleigh                                   



Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis

Bishop of Charlotte


===========================================================



CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES and SENATORS!!






CAPITOL SWITCHBOARD: (202) 224-3121.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Planned Parenthood's Latest Lie about Stupak & Obamacare

Here's amazing news. Did you know the Stupak Amendment in the House's healthcare bill actually bans private insurance companies from covering abortion?
That's what Planned Parenthood CEO Cecile Richards claimed in an email today:
Now that Congressional leaders and the White House are pushing for a final vote on health care reform, Congressman Bart Stupak and his allies - including the National Conference of Catholic Bishops - are threatening to bring down the entire bill unless it eliminates private health insurance coverage for abortion.


Read more at Jill Stanek.

Obamacare Humor – What's Wrong Here?



Let me get this straight......we're trying to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose chairman says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, to be signed by a president who hasn't read it but is exempt from it, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, all to be overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's broke. 

~ Via Cammie.

John Stossel video destroys Obamacare by explaining Socialism


Note/Caution: There is praise of the birth control pill development in this reporting.

Source here

Stupak standing Firm


Congressman Bart Stupak, the leading pro-life Democrat working to stop the pro-abortion Senate health care bill in the House if abortion funding is not banned, says he still doesn't think House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has enough votes to push the measure through the chamber.

His comments come after the House Budget Committee rejected an attempt to add his amendment to the reconciliation bill.

In an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, Stupak said he and his pro-life Democratic colleagues have not backed down from their position that they will vote against the pro-abortion health care bill unless abortion funding and promotion is removed.

"We're still not planning on voting for health care unless we can address some concerns. As I said before, there's many concerns with this bill, especially with the House -- with our vote, we sort of pass the Senate bill without any amendments," he said.

Sebelius Claims Senate Health Care Bill Does Not Provide Federal Funds for Abortion

LIAR.   
Yes, Abortion IS covered in Obamacare.  They just won't admit it.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, contradicting both the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and members of Congress, said Monday that the Senate health-care bill uses no federal money to pay for health care plans which cover elective abortions.

“There is no federal funding for abortion in either the House or the Senate bill,” Sebelius told CNSNews.com during a telephone news conference on Monday on health information technology.

“Go to the Congressional Research Service, which is the objective research body, for their detailed analysis of how both is handled,” she added.



Cardinal George emphasizes: Health reform legislation ‘must be opposed’ in current form

Reacting to the Catholic Health Association’s endorsement of Senate health reform legislation, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, reiterated in a March 15 statement that the US bishops oppose the legislation under consideration because of its provision for abortion funding and its lack of provision for conscience protection. “The flaws are so fundamental,” he said, “that they vitiate the good that the bill intends to promote.”

“Throughout the discussion on health care over the last year, the bishops have advocated a bipartisan approach to solving our national health care needs,” Cardinal George said. “They have urged that all who are sick, injured or in need receive necessary and appropriate medical assistance, and that no one be deliberately killed through an expansion of federal funding of abortion itself or of insurance plans that cover abortion. These are the provisions of the long standing Hyde amendment, passed annually in every federal bill appropriating funds for health care.”


Monday, March 15, 2010

Obamcare, Breast Cancer, Mammograms, and Steve Kagen



You would think someone with this congressman's background would know better than to support something like this. It makes one wonder about the possible incentives (payoffs) that he was offered or the threats that he faced.

Obamacare + politics Chicago Democrat style = Do whatever it takes to win.

Obama Admin Misleads on abortion funding in health care bill

Obama is determined to force us pay for abortions and will use whatever deceptive means he can to do it. 

The Obama administration has released a new memo that misleads the public on the abortion funding via community health centers found in the Senate health care bill. It takes a shot at National Right to Life, but the venerable pro-life group pushed saying no limits leave open abortion funding.

At issue is a provision in the Senate health care bill that allows $7 billion in funding for Community Health Centers -- something President Barack Obama expanded in his request for changes to the bill.

The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) and other pro-life groups have condemned the provision because the money could be funneled to abortion businesses to pay for abortions and will not be subject to provisions like the Hyde Amendment that stops abortion funding.

Read the entire story here.

Stand with Stupak (Video and Petition)



Visit www.StandWithStupak.com - take action – sign the petition – and tell all your family & friends!

H/T: American Papist at CatholicVoteAction.org

Archbishop Chaput: health care bill doesn’t meet minimum moral standards

As usual, the good Archbishop clarifies true Catholic teachings.

In his weekly column on the Denver Catholic Register, the Archbishop of Denver, Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., says the health-care bill does not meet minimum moral standards and therefore, doesn’t have the support of the Catholic bishops.

“The Senate version of health-care reform currently being forced ahead by congressional leaders and the White House is a bad bill that will result in bad law,” says the Archbishop in his column titled “Catholics, health care and the Senate’s bad bill,” published this Monday in the Archdiocese’s website.

“As I write this column on March 14, the Senate bill remains gravely flawed. It does not meet minimum moral standards in at least three important areas: the exclusion of abortion funding and services; adequate conscience protections for health-care professionals and institutions; and the inclusion of immigrants,” Chaput writes.

In reference to pro-Obama Catholic organizations who have been claiming that the bill is “sufficiently” pro-life, the Archbishop of Denver argues that “groups, trade associations and publications describing themselves as ‘Catholic’ or ‘prolife’ that endorse the Senate version – whatever their intentions – are doing a serious disservice to the nation and to the Church, undermining the witness of the Catholic community; and ensuring the failure of genuine, ethical health-care reform.”

Such groups, Archbishop Chaput explains “create confusion at exactly the moment Catholics need to think clearly about the remaining issues in the health-care debate. They also provide the illusion of moral cover for an unethical piece of legislation.”



And just when the Bishops are doing the right thing:

Catholic Health Association breaks with bishops, backs Senate health care bill


Saturday, March 13, 2010

Battle to Stop Pro-Abortion Health Care Bill Begins Monday, Vote Next Week

The pro-life community has been subjected to a roller coaster week with chaos and confusion on the monumental battle to stop the pro-abortion health care bill. Now, it appears Democrats have solidified their plan on moving forward -- with the battle beginning Monday and a final vote late next week.

That gives pro-life groups just one week to turn out millions of calls and emails to members of the House urging them to vote no on the Senate pro-abortion health care bill and any companion measures.

As Douglas Johnson of the National Right to Life Committee tells LifeNews.com, "What is needed is for the Washington office and district offices of every House Democrat to be flooded from calls from his or her constituents, saying in no uncertain terms, 'Kill the Senate health bill, or we will remember in November.'"

Democrats have examined virtually every possible method of railroading the government-run health care bill through Congress and they appear to have finalized a plan to pass it and leave the abortion funding and promotion in place.

Read the full story here.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Sign the Kill the Bill Petition



Go to http://www.michellebachmann.com/ and click Help Kill the Bill to sign the petition.

Dems to Stupak: More Abortions = Fewer Babies = Lower Gov' t Costs

It is disgraceful how little these Dems value life.  If you want to talk numbers, the 50 million plus lives lost to abortion have had a financial impact estimated in the trillions.

Democrats explaining their stubbornness to maintain the abortion funding in the Senate health care bill have admitted that a primary motivation for doing so lies in encouraging more abortions, lest more children born put a strain on government funds, said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.) as reported by National Review Online.

"If you pass the Stupak amendment, more children will be born, and therefore it will cost us millions more. That’s one of the arguments I’ve been hearing [from Democrat leaders],” Stupak said in a phone interview published Friday. “Money is their hang-up. Is this how we now value life in America? If money is the issue — come on, we can find room in the budget. This is life we’re talking about.”


U.S. Bishops Oppose Senate Health Reform Bill, Clarify Politico Comments

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has reiterated its opposition to Senate health care reform legislation.

On March 5, Politico reported that “he Roman Catholic bishops signaled Thursday that if agreement is reached with House leaders on anti-abortion language, the church would work to get the votes needed to protect the provisions in the Senate — and thereby advance the shared goal with Democrats of health care reform.”

Responding to questions about the Politico article, the bishops’ conference issued the following statement:

Recently a reporter asked the staff of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops whether, if the House of Representatives sent a health care reform bill to the Senate that includes acceptable pro-life language like the Stupak amendment, the Conference would defend the pro-life language against efforts by members of either political party to strike it from the bill. The staff answered yes. Some took that answer out of context, and misinterpreted it as a commitment by the bishops to endorse an overall health care bill as long as it includes pro-life language. No such position has been taken. The Conference has said the Senate-passed health care bill fails our moral criteria and must be changed; if changes do occur the bishops would study the new bill, then develop a position based on our moral criteria.MORE

Dems Abandon Abortion Deal, Ready Health Vote

This is the most corrupt Congress I've ever seen. They will stoop to anything to pass Obamacare.

House Democratic leaders Thursday abandoned a long struggle to strike a compromise on abortion in their ranks, gambling that they can secure the support for President Barack Obama's sweeping health care legislation with showdown votes looming as early as next week.

In doing so, they are all but counting out a small but potentially decisive group whose views on abortion coverage have become the principal hang-up for Democrats fighting to achieve the biggest change in American health care in generations. Congressional leaders are hoping they can find enough support from other wavering Democrats to pass legislation that only cleared the House by five votes in an earlier incarnation.


Thursday, March 11, 2010

Stupak: I Don't Buy Promises for Later Abortion-Funding 'Fix' to Health Bill

Democrat Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan told the Associated Press this week that he was "more optimistic than I was a week ago" about including an abortion-funding ban in health care reform - sparking speculation by some that his new-found optimism was merely a prelude to his “caving in” or compromising on the issue.

But the lawmaker has clarified that he does not intend to back down on his standard for the language, nor would he be satisfied if that language came in a later "fix" bill, after the Senate bill makes it to the President's desk.

In response to those who suggested that Stupak might have been considering throwing in the towel on abortion funding, the congressman told The Weekly Standard Tuesday, "Obviously they don’t know me."

"If I didn’t" cave in November, he said, "why would I do it now after all the crap I’ve been through?"

Stupak asserted that "there's no such thing as a compromise" on the abortion-funding language in the bills. Stupak, the author of the Hyde-amendment restriction on abortion funding in the House health care bill, has repeatedly confirmed that he and a cadre of about a dozen pro-life Democrats would vote down the Senate health bill if it did not include the same language.



Must -See Video: Democrats reveal facts about Obamacare

Video: Urge Rep. Kildee to Stand Strong Against Senate Bill

From Catholic Vote Action, a radio ad in Saginaw and Flint that encourages Rep. Dale Kildee, D-MI, to ppose the pro-abortion Senate healthcare bill:

Related Information:

Breaking Exclusive: Rep. Dale Kildee *not* a vote for pro-abortion Senate language

Our radio ad urges Rep. Kildee to stand strong against the Senate pro-abortion bill

It's Time to Get Real About Obama-Care

Filling up my email inbox are huge numbers of requests from various pro-life organizations to sign petitions which demand removal of abortion from health care.

Very briefly, this is the explanation for an inability to sign on to most of these.

The premise from so many groups is that the problem of the Democrat health care plans will be solved with language removing abortion funding from the bill.

Many people incorrectly assume that removing funding will remove the abortion mandate.  This is not so.  Mothers will be coerced to abort unborn babies with untoward fetal diagnoses in any government run system, because there will be the threat of no health coverage for such kids.  Health care professionals will still be coerced to participate in this and other unethical activity. This is the reality in other socialized medicine systems which lack funding for the care of premature infants, and those with significant congenital disabilities.

Denial of care at other points in development, with respect to early diagnosis using imaging, severe illnesses, and terminal illness, is also a sad reality in other government run health care systems, as well as the one planned for America.


Finally there is the problem of turning over our health care autonomy to an entity which is known to be corrupt.  This is not a smart move.  The control over our health care will be used by the federal government to control other aspects of our lives, including expression of religious beliefs.

Sorry to the pro-life liberals, this pharmacist (whose insights stem from health care experience),  is ethically constrained from signing on to any aspect of the killer-government controlled health care.

~Karen L. Brauer MS, RPh is president of Pharmacists for Life International, the most fully pro-life pharmacists' organization.  Find our politically incorrect site at www.pfli.org, and KB's personal blog at http://themorningafter.us. Pharmacists for Life International truly makes no profit, and all officers and staff are volunteers. 

Via Christian Newswire.